A husband, father, brother and son shares his thoughts about real life and real faith.

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Wednesday, November 04, 2009

This is good stuff. I wish I had written it.

This is good stuff. I wish I had written it. But it comes from a friend of mine.

"Did you know that Jesus was invited to parties? Jesus influenced the lives of other by 'doing life' with people. As part of our training, we are being challenged to develop our ministry strategy. We are learning to go where people are and share Christ's love with them within their own groups. We are praying that small Bible study groups/churches will emerge from these groups. God is transforming our traditional thoughts on church and ministry."

Here's the interesting thing. If you've been at Ridgeview or around me for any length of time, you've heard us talk about these very same things. Doing life together. Re-thinking our strategies for sharing Jesus with the lost. Transforming our thoughts. But, get this. This isn't a friend in Nashville or at a large church in a metro area. These are friends of mine who are missionaries in Poland.

The reason this is so interesting to me is that the "strategy" is a timeless one and breaks across all borders and barriers. It's the way that Jesus shared His love with others and the way that we should be doing the same. We do this by learning to love people where they are. We accomplish it by getting away from this idea that we are coming to rescue those in need when, in reality, we are just hungry people showing others where to find the bread. We are NOT the rescuers. We are the rescued who are pointing the way. It's not about who is right or wrong, who is left or right-wing, or who is Democrat or Republican. In our "rightness" we can be so wrong that the love of Christ is never conveyed to the ones who do not know Him.

Here's my challenge to you, Christ follower. Are you really ready to be like Christ? Do you really desire to see others transformed and rescued? Change your mentality from "us" v. "them" to all of "us" needing "Him" and see how that perspective enables you to carry out the Great Commission.